Freelance investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has commended the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for being moderate in its campaign ahead of the general elections in December this year.
He asserts that the profligacy that often characterizes the campaigns of governing parties over the years is absent in the ongoing campaign of the NPP ahead of the 2020 general elections.
According to the investigative journalist, the moderation exhibited in the campaign of the governing party, especially its decision not to “litter” the country with huge billboards as usually witnessed in every electioneering campaign period by parties in power is admirable and commendable, adding that it is his hope that future incumbent parties will follow suit.
“The incumbent NPP has done something very admirable and highly commendable. In the past few months, I’ve travelled to five regions of the country. I have not seen the outrageous littering of our towns and cities with too many gigantic billboards as are often common with incumbent parties in elections. I hope others will learn and this will be the trend going forward,” he said in a post on social media.
Recalling a speech by Second Lady, Samira Bawumia in 2016, chastising the then governing National Democratic Congress(NDC) for mounting huge billboards showcasing its presidential candidate and the then president, John Dramani Mahama, Mr. Awuni argued that such profligate campaigns by political parties are insensitive and counterproductive considering the harsh living conditions of the electorate whose mandate they are seeking.
He is therefore happy that the governing NPP is charting a new path.
“I remember this time in 2016. Those powerful words by Samira Bawumia in her riveting “We See You” speech still rings loud and clear. And I’m happy the NPP has not repeated it. It’s insensitive and counterproductive in the midst of hardship facing the ordinary Ghanaian who will be queuing to vote,” he added.
However, Mr. Awuni was quick to register his disapproval of the COVID-19 sensitization billboards which were mounted across the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I must, however, say the campaign billboards of President Akufo-Addo veiled as COVID-19 educational messages in the wake of the pandemic did not escape my notice while going around the country,” he noted.
Ghana’s political parties, especially the New Patriotic Party(NPP) and National Democratic Congress(NDC), make use of huge billboards as part of their campaign strategy. Of late however, many Ghanaians have become increasingly critical of parties that spend lavishly on billboards when citizens struggle to meet their basic needs. This criticism has led to a marked reduction in the number of billboards mounted, especially in this year’s electioneering campaign.
